Tomokichi achiha



T. ACHIHA.

MAT FOR STOPPING 'LEAKS lN-VESSELS.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 3. 1 911.

Patented June 17, 1919.

Z SHEETS-SHEET I T. ACHIHA.

MAT FOR STOPPING LEAKS. IN VESSELS.

APPLICATION HLED APR- 3. 19 17- Patented; J 1111617, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wi l

TOMOKICHI ACI-IIHA, OF TOKYO, JAPAN.

MAT FOR STOPPING LEAKS IN VESSELS.

Application filed April 3, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ToMoKrcHr AoHIHA,

, a subject of the Emperor of Japan residing at No. 37 Miyanaga-cho,Nezu, Hongo-Ku, city of Tokyo, Empire of Japan, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Mats for Stopping Leaks in Vessels, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mats for stopping leaks invessels. It is the object of the invention to provide a mat of thecharacter described which may be tightly fitted over the leaks in avessel for preventing the sea water from rushing into the interior orhold of the vessel, and which may be used with the same advantage withleaks having different contours.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of means forascertaining the actual condition of the air with which the hollow spaceof the mat is filled so as to maintain an unchanging and absolutelyefiicient pressure exerted upon the body of the vessel continuouslyduring the operation of stopping the leak.

Heretofore, no matter how rigidly the mat was applied, frequently thewater rushed through the space between the mat proper and the body ofthe vessel, especially when the surface to be protected happened to havean irregular contour. To overcome this difficulty, flexible packingshave been proposed at the marginal edges of the mat. This method howeveris not satisfactory as it does not permit of making use of the mat toits full extent or capacity.

With the object of overcoming the above difiiculties and to obtain thefull result from all the available surface of the mat for covering theentire surface to be protected, I form the mat with an inner hollowspace adapted to be filled or to contain air under pressure, so that themat may be expanded after having been placed in its contracted. formover the desired area of a vessels hull, means being provided toascertain the amount of pressure prevailing in the mat so as to supplythe supplementary quantity of air necessary for producing the desiredeffect.

In cases where the application of the mat to the outside of a vessel isimpossible or impracticable, as for instance in cases where the damagedplace of the hull is resting against a rock, or in any other case whichprecludes the use of the mat on the outside Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented June 17, 1919..

Serial No. 159,500.

of the ships hull, the same etlicient stoppage of the leaks may beeffected by applymg the mat to the inside of a vessel. In such a case,instead of forcing air into the mat, the same is filled with water byconveniently converting the air pump into a water pump.

f used as a life buoy my improved mat answers admirably well thepurpose, as it can readily be thrown overboard after havmg been filledwith the desired and necessary'quantity of air under pressure, and if aplurality of such mats are fastened together, a temporary raft will beconstructed which is capable of carrying a good number of personsthereon.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mat according to the present inventionillustrating the application of the same to the side of a ships hull.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mat.

Fig. 4 is a'sectional side elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a plan, illustrating a modified form of the mat according tothe present invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation thereof.

Fig. 7 is another modification shown in sectional elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like numerals ofreference designate similar parts, in each of the fig-' ures, thenumeral 1 designates a mat having marginal air spaces 2 formed along theedges thereof as shown in Figs. 3 and t. In the alternate form ofarrangement these air spaces may occupy the entire body of the mat asshown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

In either case, the air space may be formed by attaching eithermarginally or across the entire body of the mat upon one side of thesame a suitable lining made of ordinary canvas or other suitablewaterproof material so that the air may be admitted between the saidlining and the mat proper after the same has been placed over so thatthe air admitted thereto will be distributed evenly in each compartmentso as to cause the mat to assume normally aneven shapeinstead of beinginflated too bulkily near the middle portion of the mat'body.

At 4 is represented an air duct Which opens at one end into the airchamber 2 and communicates at its other end with a suit able air pump 9,by means of Which the air is tobe forced into the said air chamber 2.

From the air chamber 2 also extends a pressure tube 5 which is providedat its other end .With a suitable pressure gage 6, so that, when thepressure drops below a certain predetermined degree; the necessaryamount of supplementary air can be sup-- plied instantl The mats are tobe applied to any damaged portion of a ships hull in the usual Waybyineans of ropes of suitable length and strength-Which are fastened toeyes provided for this purpose and which are attached to the Wire ropes8, 8' connected to the mats; After securing the mat in position over thedamaged part, it is inflated by pumping air into one or the other of theair spaces or chambers or into the entire body according to requirementand occasion by means of the air pump With Which each set of mats issupplied. Any damage to the ship, large or small will thus quickly berepaired regardless -t0 the contour of the leak in the ships side,making the same perfectly Water tight Without much trouble anddifliculty,as the hydraulic pressure forces the mat against the hull ofa damaged vessel With great force.

What I claim is:

A device of the character described for stopping leaks invessels,comprising in combination, a mat a lining secured to said mat, air airpump for supplying the space between said lining and said mat with airunder pressure, a plurality of dividing strips having openings ofcommunication interposed in said mat, means for ascertaining the airpressure prevailing in the mat, and ropes, eyes and cables for attachingthe mat to any desired part of a ships-hull, substantially asdescribed.7

In'testi'mony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of twowvitnesses.

TOMOKICHIi ACHIHA. lVitnesses H.- F. HAWLEY, HARUTADA YASUM'URA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eachg-b yaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,1). 0.

